Authorities said a man reported that he was beaten by Helm and other unnamed offenders in the 3400 block of North Western Avenue shortly after midnight in the early hours following the Feb. 22 aldermanic elections.

Helm, of the 4700 block of North Lincoln Avenue, confirmed he was at the Celtic Crown, a sports bar, where supporters of aldermanic candidate Tom O'Donnell were gathered. But Helm denied any wrongdoing.

"This is definitely politically motivated," Helm said. "When this goes to court, I will be exonerated."

Helm was a supporter of Schulter, who dropped a re-election bid after a 35-year tenure as 47th Ward alderman. Schulter endorsed O’Donnell as his successor, but O'Donnell lost to Ameya Pawar, who had been considered a long-shot outsider.